Set the scene for me.
Formula 1 arrives at Spa for the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix in its most competitive state in years: seven different drivers and four different teams have won races in the opening 13 rounds, a far cry from the Red Bull domination we witnessed last year.
Max Verstappen leads the championship by 76 points, although McLaren’s push to the front of the grid means Lando Norris still holds out hope of reeling him in come the end of the year. The British driver arguably could’ve backed up his maiden win in Miami with victories in Canada, Spain, Austria, Britain, and Hungary, but small errors from both driver and team have cost them dearly.
And last week’s one-two finish in Hungary briefly threatened to destabilize the harmony in the garage, as the team begged Norris to hand back the lead (and the win) to teammate Oscar Piastri, having sacrificed the Aussie’s strategy to protect the team’s result.
Anyway, with Verstappen dropping points and Sergio Perez still struggling, McLaren is now only 51 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, so that championship fight is very much on. Who are you backing to prevail this side of the summer shutdown?
What time does the Belgian Grand Prix start?
Screenshots at the ready: The Belgian GP starts at 9pm in the Philippines on Sunday, July 28. Qualifying is set to start at 10pm on Saturday, July 27, with the session lasting for about an hour.
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Is it going to rain?
As things stand, it’s unlikely that rain will affect the grand prix on Sunday, although current forecasts suggest that qualifying will be impacted by showers. Bear in mind, though, that Spa-Francorchamps is tucked away in the hilly Ardennes, so that picture could change rapidly.
Give me some history in 100 words or fewer.
The Belgian Grand Prix dates all the way back to 1925, and was on the calendar for the first-ever F1 championship in 1950. Since then, it’s only missed six years, making it one of the most visited countries on the calendar. Spa is one of F1’s most feared circuits, having witnessed several heavy accidents and fatalities over the years, although recent changes—especially the run-off zone around the famous Eau Rouge–Raidillon complex—have supposedly made it safer. Despite its reputation, the long, high-speed corners and the picturesque setting make it a favorite among the drivers.
The top three will be…
Based on form, McLaren looks like red-hot favorites for this one. So let’s say Norris puts his recent near-misses behind him and leads home a McLaren one-two with teammate Piastri backing up his first-ever win in F1 with another podium finish. Lewis Hamilton will maintain his recent form and cross the line in P3, primarily because Verstappen looks set to take an engine penalty in Belgium. And unlike in the previous two races here, the Dutchman seems unlikely to simply coast up the grid and take the checkered flag regardless of where he starts the race. Not that we’d rule it out entirely, of course…
Shock of the weekend?
Sporting that Deadpool & Wolverine livery, the Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon will pick off their fellow backmarkers one by one in a rage-fueled vendetta against their enemies, all the while reeling off a tirade of foul-mouthed-yet-pithy quips and occasionally breaking the fourth wall. Before breaking an actual wall. Of tires.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
